Gap for projectiles



vices for the cap. Fig. 3 is UNITED' STATES Patented January 5, 1904.

CHARLES VAN CISE WHEELER, OF ALLEGHENY, AND ALEXANDER GEORGE MCKENNA, OFBRADDOCK, PENNSYLVANlA/ASSIGNORS TO FIRTH STER- LING STEEL COMPANY,

A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

CAP FOR PROJ ECTlLS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 748,827, dated January5, 1904i.

Application filed May 1| 1903. Serial No. 155,092. lNo model.)

T0 a/ZZ whom, it may cori/cern:

Be it known that we, CHARLES VAN OISE WHEELER, ot Allegheny, andALEXANDER GEORGE MCKENNA, of Braddock, in the State ofPennsylvania,citizens of the United States, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Caps for Projec'tiles, of which the followingis a specification, accompanied by drawings.

This invention relates to caps'for projectiles, and has for its objectsto improve upon the effectiveness of the cap with whichmodern'armor-piercing projectiles are provided and also to decreasethe'liability of accident through the cap becoming detached inthe gun,and so jamming the projectile therein. Further objects of the inventionwill hereinafter appear; and to these ends the inven tion consists of aprojectile provided with a cap for carrying out the above objectsembodying the features ot' construction, combinations of elements, andarrangement of part-s, substantially as hereinafter fully described andclaimed in this specification and shown in the accompanying, drawings,in which- Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through anarmor-piercing projectile provided with a cap constructed in accordance'with this invention. Fig. 2- is a transverse sectional view on the lineX X of Fig. l, show,- ing the method of inserting the fastening deatransverse sectional view on the line X X of Fig. l after the fasteningdevices have been raised in place. Figi 4 is an enlarged detail view, inlongitudinal section, through the projectile, showing the manner offorcing a tight t between the projectile-point and the cap.

Various means anddevices have been inventedfor attaching the cap to thehead 'of the projectile-as,for instance, by means of movable set-screws,unhooking-clamps, or by unlocking slotdevices, and by forming an annularrib on the inside of the cap adaptedto beeompressed into a groove on thehead of the projectile. Caps have been also secured to the projectile bymeans of soft solder or by Y -means of a retaining rib or ribs providedupon the proj tactile-point.

In those instances in which the cap is `made detachable by means j ofthe projectile,

f and the head of the projectile are of removable set-screws and thelike the fastenings are likely to become loose, and this is a vitalobjection. Where it becomes necessary to compress metal into a groove onthe head of the projectile, the instal of the cap must be soft enough tobe forced cold inte the groove without rupture, and thus acini.rlongitudinally instead of laterally, thereby rendering the attachingmeans imper feet, but with the imperfection so concealed that they arenot to be discovered by subse quent inspectioni` The head of theprojectilehas also been provided with a groove, and a rib on the cap hasthen been shrunk into the groove to holdthe cap in position; but thisconstruction may lead to heating the point and thus softening it per-`ceptibly, which is a very detrimental desideratum against presentarmor-plates. The use of solder also involves beating and softening ot'the projectile-point and a thoroughlyreliable fastening is not,obtained. The provision' of ribs on the projectile-point isobjectionable not only because of the difficulty of machining suchshapes, but also in requiring increased energy for suchcontour of'pointto perforate the plate.

According to our construction both the cap provided with grooves whichare adapted to 'substantially register when the cap is in position onthe point of the projectile and means are provided forinserting afastening device or devices within the grooves in the cap andprojectile.

Referring to the drawings, A represents a projectile, and B thecaptherefor. The cap is provided with a groove C on the inside of thesame, which groove '1s adapted to register with the groove D on the headof the projectile when the' cap 1s placed in position. As

shown in this instance, these nular in lform and lie of circularcross-sectional outline it isto be observed that the grooves may beconstructed of other shapes.

Means are provided for inserting suitable fastening devlces 1n the formof pins or rods E within th for holding the cap in position upon theprojectile-point. the cap are shown communicating with the into thegrooves by any suitable means-as, for instance, by blows delivered byahammer.

As shown in Fig. 4, the grooves() and D nearlyacoincide or inexactlyregister, and it drawn tightly down over being placed in positiontherein by suitable means, may have rounded points and may be made ofsteel, are forced into the groove. are shown of sufficient length tocompletely inserted and held tightly the rods E, which very simple,while a very great force is required to displace the cap. A very smallgroove can be used, if desired, thus diminish'- ng the risk of weakeningthe projectile-poi'n t.

This would be more important on large-caliber projectiles. l

If desired, the rods E may be of slightly larger diameter than thegrooves, thus 'msuring the tiglltest and most st ant detection.

As no heat is applied to the point of the projectile, it is notsoftened.In oblique impacts, it is particularly important that "the adapted toregister when cap shall be securely fastened, so that as the Obviouslythis invention may be embodied in varying forms, and some features ofthe invention may be used without others.

tially the purposes set forth.

. A projectile and a cap therefor, both of the projectile, the; caphaving provision for the insertion of said holdin means from theoutside, for substantially the purposes set'forth. 4. A projectile,

and fastening means lying within head and cap, for substantially thepurposes set forth.

5. A projectile,

portion, and a cap provided with an interior head/when the cap 1sin-position on .the point of the projectile, and a rod or in bo'th'ofsaid grooves, for substantially the purposes slet forth.

t The combination. of'a projectile and a cap therefor',

both provided with grooves the cap is in position'on the head of theprojectile, a rod or rods, and means for inserting said rod or rods inthe registering grooves from the outside, for substantially the purposesset forth.

In testimony whereof we have signed this specification in the presenceof two su bscribing witnesses.

CHARLES VAN OISE WHEELER. ALEXANDER GEORGE MCKENNA. Witnesses:

' W. B. GREENWOOD,

F. G. HARRISON.

